Cakewalk and Sonar as we like remember them were dead long before we started moving to alternatives. 
 
It's easy to blame Gibson but a lot of the detail offered here points to a company that has had problems for a long time and ultimately failed because it failed to become a recognised brand in its chosen field. Respected yes, recognised no.

Piotr
I am thinking if mass migration exodus from Sonar to other DAWs is kind of kiss of death which could make unwanted by us scenario final...
 

 
Piotr:
 
First, as Craig said, Gibson killed Sonar (at least in the Aristotelian sense of "effective cause"); the paying, legal users have had the least to do with this of anyone, regardless of where they are in "the Great DAW Reallignment of 2017" (ominous fanfare cued here). (I do think that we users could have a bit less melodrama about it all, BTW. And I'm not referring to present company or even anyone in particular in mentioning this. I'm just not sure it's all that productive at this point.)

 
Second, your comment about "mass migration" might have some bearing on the situation, except for one huge point: it's doubtful that there are any accurate numbers anywhere concerning who is "leaving" or "staying" in the Sonar fold. I can cite my own example. After trying several DAWS, I bought Studio One 3.5 because it kind of felt "natural" to the way I work. I don't intend to stop using Sonar, though if no credible company picks it up, I'm pretty sure that in about a year's time or so, I'll probably be using Studio One almost entirely. (Just so I'm not misunderstood, I'm not feeling like Studio One is a lesser DAW than Sonar, though I certainly am still in discovery mode with it; it's just different.) But am I in the fold or out? I'd have to say in, but others may even feel betrayed by my actions (though I certainly hope not).

 
I hope this allays your fears somewhat. Offered in the spirit of FWIW.

It's all crash!  It's all crash!  In the loudspeaker!
 
good boy.

Funkfingers
Sonar isnt dead. Just sleeping. Waiting for the prince to come.

But there's a good chance that prince is currently a frog waiting for the princess to kiss him...

BlixYZ
However, if people start using another DAW and then Sonar comes back, they will still own Sonar.

A new owner may save the Sonar name as a DAW, but doesn't have to honour the existing lifetime update or implied ownership. I'd imagine a new owner would build in some revenue from the existing user base via either a new subscription,  a new update pricing regime or other financial model; and that's _if_ development can be picked up almost seamlessly within the next four or five months.  If it's any longer too much momentum will be lost (where have I heard that word before in a Sonar context? Oh, I remember). It will take a year or so before sufficient trust could be placed in any new regime, especially from the serious professional user base. If the remaining user base is more casual hobbyist, then development will likely be scaled down to where Sonar becomes a shadow of its former glory. Maybe. 
 
Jerry

anydmusic

Funkfingers
Sonar isnt dead. Just sleeping. Waiting for the prince to come.

But there's a good chance that prince is currently a frog waiting for the princess to kiss him...

Or perhaps it's more like one of those pod-eggs from the movie Alien that holds a face-hugger....
 

You know what ?
 
This ain't my first Rodeo ...Cakewalk killed Project 5 close to 10 years ago ...
 
I spent years trying to replace it , wishing it would come back and then eventually I gave up on it and found something else ...
 
During that 10 years I wished that Cakewalk would fix SONAR's staff View , I even held out hope until recently ..
Now what do you think 'm saying Here ?
 
Do I look like I want to sit here and Pine Away for years like I did when Cakewalk was up and running
 
No Ken Do No More
 
Kenny

kennywtelejazz
You know what ? Cakewalk killed Project 5 close to 10 years ago ...
 
I spent years trying to replace it , wishing it would come back and then eventually I gave up on it and found something else ...
 
During that 10 years I wished that Cakewalk would fix SONAR's staff View , I even held out hope until recently ..
Now what do you think 'm saying Here ?
Do I look like I want to sit here and Pine Away for years like I did when Cakewalk was up and running
 
No Ken Do No More
 
Kenny

 
Living in Hope... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZIQKn2Adfk 

kennywtelejazz
You know what ?
 
This ain't my first Rodeo ...Cakewalk killed Project 5 close to 10 years ago ...
 
I spent years trying to replace it , wishing it would come back and then eventually I gave up on it and found something else ...
 
During that 10 years I wished that Cakewalk would fix SONAR's staff View , I even held out hope until recently ..
Now what do you think 'm saying Here ?
 
Do I look like I want to sit here and Pine Away for years like I did when Cakewalk was up and running
 
No Ken Do No More
 
Kenny

anydmusic
 
 
Living in Hope... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZIQKn2Adfk 

That Was Nice
 

Beagle
 

 
 
Oh boy Beagle 
 
Hhhhmm, You know what ?
 
If I round up a bunch of them and spruce them up with some Holiday sprinkles and stuff , I may be able to stand in close proximity to a  Santa ringing a bell and sell a few of them ...might get some DAW cross grade money back 
 
If that don't work out I can always stuff one of them down my drawers and turn my amp up to 11
 
Kenny